WHAT’S NEW AT THE CENTER? FACULTY, STAFF, AND BOARD NEWS
by Susan K. Serrano, Director of Educational Development

Staff, Fellows and Students

The Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law is pleased to welcome its first Post-Juris Doctor Research Fellows, Iokona Baker (’06 JD), Le‘a Kanehe (’01 JD) and Trisha Kehaulani Watson (’03 JD). The Center’s Research Fellowship Program, launched in July 2006, enables recent law graduates to undertake cutting-edge research and to publish works through the Center for use by Native Hawaiian communities, scholars, and the public. Iokona Baker’s project centers on the Indian Child Welfare Act and assesses its possible use as a model for legislation to prevent the unwarranted removal of Native Hawaiian children from their families. Trisha Kehaulani Watson’s project focuses on capacity building and leadership development for Native Hawaiian non-profit organizations. Le‘a Kanehe’s project addresses the protection of Native Hawaiian genetic resources and indigenous knowledge.

The Center also welcomes Kelli Lee (’06 JD), the Center’s first Post-Juris Doctor Community Outreach Fellow. The Community Outreach Fellowship Program, also launched in the summer of 2006, supports the development of outreach programs to Native Hawaiian youth and community members. Kelli’s first project was a hands-on workshop and simulated courtroom experience for 11th grade Native Hawaiian students, as part of Na Pua No‘eau “Super High Day,” a career and exploration and educational enrichment experience for Native Hawaiian 11th graders.

The Center congratulates its six Law Student Summer Fellows for completing their Summer 2006 fellowships. The Center provided stipends to the following students to work at Native Hawaiian organizations under the guidance of attorneys: Cherise Agua-Andrews and Amita Aung-Thwin (Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement), Scott Hovey (Office of Hawaiian Affairs), Brengyei Katosang (Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation), Lance Larson (Native Hawaiian Education Council), and Ka‘ano‘i Walk (Native Hawaiian Cultural Trademark Study (Pa‘i Foundation)). The Center congratulates Cherise Agua-Andrews, Malina Koani-Guzman, Zachary Kondo, and Ashley Obrey on their receipt of the Center’s first set of Scholarships, and applauds the 2006-07 Native American Moot Court team: Moani Crowell, Scott Hovey, Derek Kauanoe, Jocelyn Macadangdang-Doane, Greg Schlais and Anosh Yaqoob, who will compete in the 15th Annual National Native American Law Students Association Moot Court Competition on February 16-17, 2007 in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota.

Finally, the Center welcomes Susan Serrano (’98 JD) as the Director of Educational Development and Kapua Sproat (’98 JD) as Assistant Professor. Susan and Kapua join existing Center staff and faculty, Melody Kapilialoha MacKenzie, Assistant Professor and Director of the Center; Justin Scott, the Center’s Administrative Specialist; Lori Kidani (‘04 JD), Research Assistant for Library and Archives; Professor Williamson B.C. Chang and Visiting Professor Carl C. Christensen, along with the Chair of the New Program Faculty Liaison Committee, Professor Eric K. Yamamoto.

Advisory Board News

The Center’s Advisory Board, composed of distinguished attorneys and community leaders, provides advice and guidance and helps to establish the Center’s overall goals. Our Advisory Board members are: Chief Justice (ret’d) William S. Richardson; Beadie Dawson, Esq.; Jon Osorio, Director of the Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies; Dee Jay Mailer, CEO of the Kamehameha Schools; Moses K.N. Haia III, Esq.; and Summer Kupau, Esq.. In each issue of Ka He‘e, we will feature just a few of the many recent achievements and activities of our Advisory Board members.

In this issue, we are pleased to congratulate The Honorable William S. Richardson (“CJ”), for his upcoming receipt of the 2007 Spirit of Excellence Award. Established by the American Bar Association Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession, the award “celebrates the achievements of diverse lawyers and others who contribute to the legal profession and society.” It is presented each year to lawyers “who excel in their professional settings; who personify excellence on the national, state, or local level; and who have demonstrated a commitment to racial and ethnic diversity in the legal profession.” CJ will receive his award during the ABA Midyear Meeting on February 10, 2007 in Miami, Florida.

Below is a short excerpt from the Spirit of Excellence Award nomination form submitted in support of CJ Richardson’s nomination:

William S. Richardson has spent a lifetime exemplifying the goal of expanding racial and ethnic diversity in the legal profession. As the first Native Hawaiian Chief Justice of the Hawai‘i Supreme Court, the founder of Hawai‘i’s first and only law school, and continuing role model and mentor, William S. Richardson opened educational and professional avenues for the islands’ most disadvantaged racial and ethnic groups in a multitude of ways.

Of Native Hawaiian, Chinese and Caucasian ancestry, and born into a working-class family, William S. Richardson (fondly known as “CJ”) experienced some of the social, economic, and political deprivations felt by many others, and he has committed himself to social justice throughout his professional career. He served as the Lieutenant Governor from 1962 to 1966, and later as the first Native Hawaiian Chief Justice of the Hawai‘i Supreme Court, the state’s highest court, from 1966 to 1982. He also served as Democratic Party chairperson and President of the Hawai‘i State Bar. Throughout his career, CJ Richardson encouraged indigenous Hawaiians and other underrepresented individuals to work within the legal system to make positive change for the people of Hawai‘i.

The establishment of the University of Hawai‘i School of Law in 1973, after he led the fight to establish it for decades, is considered by many to be CJ Richardson’s crowning achievement. Determined that everyone in Hawai‘i should have the opportunity to obtain a legal education, and not just those fortunate enough to have the resources to attend U.S. mainland schools, CJ Richardson led an uphill battle to form Hawai‘i’s only law school. At that time, the legal profession was dominated by a handful of law firms whose partners were Caucasian men, mostly from the continental United States. Through the late 1960s, there was no non-Caucasian partner in any of the large, long-established law firms in Hawai‘i.

Despite strong opposition from the establishment and the white-dominated bar, CJ Richardson solicited and allied himself with advocates in Hawai‘i and on the U.S. mainland and he ultimately was successful in persuading the University of Hawai‘i and the Legislature to establish and fund the law school. There were fifty-three students in the first graduating class, including John D. Waihe‘e, III, the future first Native Hawaiian Governor of Hawai‘i. Officially named after beloved William S. Richardson in 1983, the school’s mission is to promote justice, ethical responsibility and public service, and the Law School continues to emphasize the rights of Native Hawaiians, environmental law, and Pacific and Asian legal systems.

Literally thousands of men and women—many from underrepresented, minority, and indigenous Hawaiian communities—are now practicing law, holding elected office, teaching law, leading community services organizations, and serving in the judiciary in Hawai‘i and around the world because of the work of CJ Richardson.

Not only did CJ Richardson handle the logistical work of forming and sustaining a law school, but he personally follows the academic progress of its students. Now at age 86, CJ Richardson still maintains an office at the school and he continues to participate in the school’s development, supporting especially the Native Hawaiian, elder law, and minority student programs.

While serving as Chief Justice of the state’s highest court, CJ Richardson played an active role in the Law School’s Pre-Admission program (now known as the Ulu Lehua Program), which provides assistance to underrepresented groups. He has mentored generations of students and young clerks who went on to serve underserved communities; and he continues to inspire countless Native Hawaiians and members of other disadvantaged groups to attend law school and to succeed in the legal profession.